Mastercard Scholars

Going digital to save lives: U of T grad student aims to eliminate barriers to health care

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:40:31 +0000

Going digital to save lives: U of T grad student aims to eliminate barriers to health care

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 10/07/2024 - 09:40

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Naturinda Emmanuel, a Mastercard Scholar who grew up in Uganda, studies intelligent medicine and electronic medical records at U of T's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (supplied image)

Tina Adamopoulos

Topic

Global Lens

Black Research Network

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Africa

Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Subheadline

Naturinda Emmanuel, a scholar and entrepreneur, says the digitization of medical records, when coupled with AI, will reduce errors in patient care and help spot public health threats before they occur

Growing up in Uganda, Naturinda Emmanuel aspired to be a medical doctor and health leader who eliminates barriers to health-care access for those in underserved, remote communities.

“I always wanted to address different health-care issues in my country – that is my motivation,” he says. “I want to gain the skills and expertise to strengthen health-care systems to ensure that those who need care can receive it.”

Naturinda (his surname) is now a graduate student at the University of Toronto, where he studies intelligent medicine and electronic medical records in the master of health informatics program at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME).

He’s also actively involved with the startup community, having launched a successful, impact-focused enterprise in Uganda and training other entrepreneurs.

Naturinda joined IHPME with the support of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, a global education initiative focused on the next generation of African leaders, and Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative (AHEHC), a partnership between U of T, the Mastercard Foundation and leading African universities. The AHEHC was established in 2022 to drive primary health-care workforce education, entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa.

This is Naturinda’s second time studying abroad with the Mastercard Foundation. He became the first in his family to study outside the country when he was awarded a scholarship to pursue an undergraduate degree in laboratory medicine at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana.

He later returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic to volunteer in the clinical microbiology and immunology departments at a local hospital. The experience prompted him to think about how to improve systems that were suddenly facing new pressures at already burdened hospitals – namely the continued use of paper records.

Medical records are the building blocks for developing efficient and effective intelligent medicine models, he says, while intelligent medicine refers to the use of machine learning models to process medical data and reduce errors in patient care. Large datasets may also allow medical professionals to spot health patterns – an emerging epidemic, for example – to better prepare for public health threats.

However, low-to-middle-income countries face many barriers to digitizing medical data, including limited access to technology and the absence of standardized data formats. The use of paper records also causes delays in retrieving laboratory results and makes it difficult to understand patients’ medical histories efficiently.

“The digitization of medical records is essential for developing and training predictive models,” Naturinda says. “Unique electronic datasets from these communities provide the more accurate and reliable information needed to account for unique socio-cultural factors and effectively develop models tailored to address those specific challenges.”

Naturinda will work under the guidance of Karim Keshavjee, an assistant professor and director of the master of health informatics program. In addition to intelligent medicine, Naturinda says he also has a key interest in implementation science, or the study of methods to ensure research is translated into policy, programs and startups.

One of Canada’s few professional graduate programs in the field, the master of health informatics program provides students with the skills and strategic vision to take on leadership positions in health-care landscape.

The opportunity to learn industry-specific knowledge from health leaders is what made the program a perfect fit, Naturinda says.

“One of the reasons I chose the MHI program is because it is training us to be leaders, innovators and policymakers. I wanted to seek mentorship from people who were making a big impact in strengthening health-care systems in Canada.”

Public health isn’t the only field where Naturinda is hoping to make an impact. He also wants to help others as an entrepreneur – a journey that’s already well underway.

During his undergrad, he co-founded the Nugget Poultry Farm to help smallholder farmers in western Uganda raise poultry more effectively and improve food access back home. The venture aims to support 1,000 farmers in 20 communities by 2027 and has received a Social Venture Challenge Award from the Mastercard Foundation and the Resolution Project.

Naturinda enhanced his business knowledge through the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University. Now a program coach, he has trained more than 500 entrepreneurs from Africa-based startups addressing various issues in agribusiness, climate change and health care.

Naturinda is eager to tap into U of T’s network of entrepreneurs and has wasted no time reaching out to various groups, including the Black Founders Network.

“When I train entrepreneurs, I see the impact of them pitching their ventures or winning a grant. It’s the type of impact that I want to see with my research, and bridging those two passions is an ideal step forward,” Naturinda says.

“As I progress at U of T, I look forward to leveraging opportunities that speak to my background in entrepreneurship, health care and research to make sure that I implement them together.”

U of T partners with leading African universities and Mastercard Foundation to advance health care in Africa

bresgead — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:44:25 +0000

U of T partners with leading African universities and Mastercard Foundation to advance health care in Africa

bresgead Tue, 01/16/2024 - 13:44

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The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative Executive Steering Committee, including U of T’s Joseph Wong and Wisdom Tettey, fourth and third from right, met in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2023 (photo courtesy of Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative)

Topic

The University of Toronto, the Mastercard Foundation and a network of leading African universities are embarking on a 10-year initiative to enhance primary health care workforce education, entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa.

The partnership, known as the Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative (AHEHC), was launched in 2022 and aims to bolster the continent’s health sectors as part of efforts to improve care for millions while supporting youth employment and economic growth. Participating institutions from Africa include Addis Ababa University, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, African Leadership University, Amref International University, Ashesi University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Moi University and the University of Cape Town.

The AHEHC partners are committed to reshaping the health-care landscape in Africa by preparing young people for meaningful work in health and wellness through contextually appropriate and sustainable primary health care.

According to a 2022 survey of 47 countries in Africa, there’s an average of only 1.55 doctors, nurses, and midwives per 1,000 people, significantly below the WHO’s recommended ratio.

AHEHC was a key topic at a 2023 meeting in Cape Town, South Africa that focused on a collective goal of enhancing the health sector to benefit African societies. The gathering included several U of T leaders: Joseph Wong, vice-president, international; Trevor Young, dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine who is now vice-president and provost; and Wisdom Tettey, vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough. Representatives from all partnering institutions also participated.

“The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative is part of a larger movement – driven by Africans for Africans – aimed at enhancing the continent's economic vitality, improving access to health care and generating fulfilling employment in the health sector,” Wong said.

"The members of this collaborative are working hand-in-hand to advance local priorities and leverage our collective resources to create a healthier, more sustainable future, with each partner contributing to and learning from the others.”

Wong added that AHEHC’s work is guided by the idea of co-creation – an approach that was evident at the October 2023 convening as the partners cemented the mutual relationships, laying the foundation for the widespread adoption of African-led solutions across the network.

U of T’s participation in the AHEHC aligns with the university’s broader Africa strategy, which encompasses various initiatives from entrepreneurship exchanges to high-level summits involving representatives from universities, governments and various international development groups. It is guided by the President’s International Council on Engagement with Africa and is outlined in the university’s International Strategic Plan 2022-2027, focused on global reach, global learning and global impact.

"We aim to tap into the tremendous young talent and vast opportunities across the continent while addressing challenges facing Africa’s primary healthcare systems, including severe worker shortages,” said Penina Lam, U of T’s senior director of international relations, who is leading AHEHC’s implementation.

AHEHC’s initial focus will be in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, aiming to strengthen health sectors. Through hands-on training in various disciplines, AHEHC seeks to prepare the next generation of health-care practitioners. The approach aims to enhance the delivery of high-quality primary care, stimulate economic growth and develop robust societies. This aligns with the Mastercard Foundation’s Health Strategy, which seeks to create three million dignified and fulfilling jobs in primary care, with an emphasis on employment opportunities for women and young people.

The 2023 Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, & Adaptation (MELA) co-creation workshop was held in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2023 (photo courtesy of Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative)

As the secretariat for the initiative, U of T plays a supportive role in co-ordinating collaborations and programs tailored to each partner’s local health priorities, needs, assets and expertise. This involves facilitating learning, development and implementation across the network, managed by a team in Canada and through three regional hubs in Africa.

For example, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of family and community medicine partnered with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Together, they co-delivered continuing education courses for primary care workers in critical areas such as palliative care. About 100 Ghanaian primary care professionals participated in the courses this fall.

This program is among many guided by AHEHC’s three pillars: health employment, focusing on workforce development; health entrepreneurship, which supports the creation of businesses that will produce health innovations and self-employment opportunities; and health ecosystems, which engages partners in government, corporations, non-profits and other institutions in the collective effort to transform the health sector.

AHEHC will also build on the success of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, ushering in a new cohort of graduate students from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to pursue their studies at U of T over ten years.

AHEHC leverages U of T’s longstanding, mutually beneficial relationships with institutions in Africa, such as the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration, which brings together U of T faculty members with colleagues at Addis Ababa University to co-develop graduate programs and train professionals, many of whom remain in Ethiopia to contribute to various sectors.

Wong said the initiative is an important one for the university.

“This collaborative aligns with our institutional mission to foster an academic community in which the learning and scholarship of everyone flourishes,” he said. “We are committed to the principles of equal opportunity, equity and justice – not just here in Canada but globally.”

Now U of T grads, three Mastercard Foundation Scholars keen to give back to their communities

geoff.vendeville — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 16:12:25 +0000

Now U of T grads, three Mastercard Foundation Scholars keen to give back to their communities

geoff.vendeville Fri, 06/24/2022 - 12:12

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From left to right: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Gladys Opeoluwa Olubowale, Providence Tatenda Mapingire and Modestus Nzubechi Amaechi.

Topic

International Students

Mastercard Scholars

Undergraduate Students

The final cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars are graduating from the University of Toronto this spring – the culmination of their journey from Sub-Saharan Africa to Canada.

Nearly a decade ago, U of T was among the first Canadian universities to partner with the Mastercard Foundation to offer talented students from the region an opportunity to study in Canada on a scholarship covering their tuition, travel, housing and other expenses.

Over the years, U of T has welcomed dozens of bright young students through the current iteration of the program – many of whom were eager to help their communities both locally and back home. Michael Samakayi, a Deaf student from Zambia, helped launch an American Sign Language Club on campus and successfully advocated for an undergraduate linguistics course in the Faculty of Arts & Science that focuses on ASL and Deaf culture. Emmanuela Alimlim, the first from her village in Kenya to study abroad, founded an initiative to support and encourage students in Kenya who are seeking to access higher education.

“We are confident that the impact of this inspiring Mastercard scholars’ gift will continue to be felt both here in Canada and in Africa for many years to come,” said David Palmer, vice-president, advancement. “Bolstered by the education and real-world experiences they received through this visionary program, these talented young students are already making a difference in their communities.”

Below, three members of the final, 12-member cohort U of T Mastercard Foundation Scholars – Gladys Opeoluwa Olubowale, Providence Tatenda Mapingire and Modestus Nzubechi Amaechi – reflect on their paths to graduation, from their first impressions of Canadian winters to their post-convocation plans.

Gladys Opeoluwa Olubowale

Home country: Nigeria

Studying: Chemical engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

When I first joined U of T in 2017, I already knew I wanted to pursue research, which is one of the reasons I decided to join the chemical engineering program.

I quickly got involved in research by becoming an undergraduate research assistant in food engineering in my second year. I found many aspects of research work very engaging and rewarding – from working in the lab to working on a research poster.

All this culminated in presenting my research work at Undergraduate Engineering Research Day here at U of T. I found my research work so fulfilling that I decided to work on an independent thesis project. Through this, I went through the process of conducting my research independently in the lab, leading a literature review and presenting to a panel of professors.

All the opportunities I was given to explore my research interests further opened my eyes to the inadequate access to STEM education for so many children in my home country of Nigeria. This led me to develop a project to improve STEM education for elementary and secondary school-aged students in Nigeria. I was able to remotely assemble a team in Nigeria and raise funds to teach coding and buy robotics kits for students. Initially, this was meant to be a one-year project, but it went so successfully that my team and I are currently in the process of registering it as an NGO.

My U of T experience has allowed me to bridge my interest in STEM with my desire to give back – and I’m most grateful for that.

Modestus Nzubechi Amaechi

Home country: Nigeria

Studying: Chemical engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

My U of T journey has been filled with lots of learning experiences. When I came to U of T in my first year, it was quite hard for me to really understand people because it seemed that they spoke too fast and my classes were hard to find. The winter season was very difficult for me, and it was hard to navigate my way to class during the winter semester, but with help of the MCF office and the engineering faculty I was able to get through my first winter semester.

Another good learning experience for me was running for wellness director of the ChemClub in my second year. I was always reserved in my first year and I didn't engage in any activities as I was getting used to many things, but this role opened me up to many opportunities and connections with people in the chemical engineering department.

Providence Tatenda Mapingire

Home country: Zimbabwe

Studying: Finance and economics in the Faculty of Arts & Science

Over the course of my time at U of T as a student at Rotman, I’ve had many opportunities to learn about the world of economics and finance outside of the classroom. Firstly, I secured a position as a part-time junior analyst at FirePower Capital, a Toronto-based investment firm. I learned a great deal from the investment team, many of whom have been working in the finance sector for many years.

I was able to parlay that experience into an internship at Credit Suisse in New York on the global market team. Not only did this allow me to further my knowledge of finance and global market trends, but I also got to experience a different culture in New York. As someone who didn’t have much experience outside of my home country of Zimbabwe until I joined U of T in 2018, getting to live and work in New York opened my eyes to the different work cultures and social mores. I saw how these customs and behaviours overlapped or differed from my own. In addition, I’ve learned how to better understand and relate to people of different cultural backgrounds.

I’ve also had the opportunity to take all that I’ve learned as a student and employee and use it to provide more junior Rotman scholars with advice and mentorship as a career peer at the Rotman Commerce Program. This has shown me the importance of sharing the knowledge one gains with others to help them in their career and in life.

U of T students who crushed it in 2018

geoff.vendeville — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 18:15:14 +0000

U of T students who crushed it in 2018

geoff.vendeville Tue, 12/18/2018 - 13:15

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The Indigenous Studies Students' Union held a powwow in the Goldring Centre in March. Hundreds of people showed up to celebrate Indigenous communities, cultures and languages (photo by Laura Pedersen)

Topic

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Undergraduate Students

Victoria College

It would be difficult to overstate the hard work and achievement of University of Toronto students this year. They literally went to the ends of the Earth.

Matt Young, a PhD student in astronomy, returned from a two-month-long trip to Antarctica, where he helped upgrade a camera on a one-tonne telescope at a research station. The instrument observes the cosmic microwave background – electromagnetic radiation left by the Big Bang – that offers clues about the early universe.

Closer to home, the accomplishments of U of T students were equally impressive. They overcame difficulties to succeed in their studies, held events enriching life on campus and inspired others with their dedication to learning.

Here's just a small sample of what they were up to this year:

The U of T students who kept up the tradition of Black graduation

Students prepare to make a grand entrance at Black graduation in Hart House's Great Hall (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Black graduations, or commencements, have become a fixture of university calendars south of the border, including at Harvard and Stanford. In 2017, U of T students made history by organizing what was believed to be Canada's first Black graduation ceremony.

This year, Ayaan Abdulle, Matthew Campbell-Williams, Anyika Mark and a dedicated team of volunteers carried the torch. They invited Dionne Brand, a past Toronto poet laureate and winner of the Governor General’s Award who received an honorary degree from U of T, to deliver a guest lecture. And the class of '18 toasted their accomplishments in style, filing into Hart House's Great Hall to the tune of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black.”

From a Tibetan refugee camp to U of T Dentistry

The road to U of T was a tough one for Khamsum Wangdu. He and his brother grew up in Nepal in a Tibetan refugee camp. They were training to be dentists, but before they could take their licensing exams, the 2015 earthquake struck, killing 9,000 people and injuring 22,000.

Amid assisting with medical and relief efforts, they learned that Canadian authorities had fast-tracked their family’s sponsorship application. They were both accepted to dentistry schools in Canada – Khamsum at U of T and his brother Kunsang at Dalhousie University. Khamsum got into an accelerated program for internationally trained dentists and is due to graduate in 2020.

“Being accepted into the University of Toronto is not simply a dream come true, it is the chance of a lifetime,” he said.

The student who made his voice heard

Behzad Farkhari performed on the big Bollywood stage over the summer (photo via Facebook)

Behzad Farkhari, in neuroscience and psychology at U of T Scarborough, overcame his boyhood shyness to perform Bollywood songs. This summer, he got to perform on the biggest stage yet of his career on Dil Hai Hindustani, the Indian equivalent of American Idol. He placed ninth among the 21,000 musicians who auditioned for the reality show.

The undergraduate who made the most of university and inspired others to do the same

Allie Sinclair proved good grades don't have to come at the cost of everything else. She was involved in research from her very first week at U of T, landing a position in a psychology lab. As an undergraduate, she took the stage as part of the Victoria College Drama Society, went for hikes, mentored other students and even co-wrote a paper that was accepted for publication in a scholarly journal.

She graduated last year at the top of her class with a GPA of 4.0. But before leaving U of T for graduate school in the U.S., she and fellow top students from previous years shared some advice.

The student who was the picture of perseverance

Elspeth Arbow during a physiotherapy session at Toronto General Hospital after her double-lung transplant (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

There was no stopping Elspeth Arbow, even when she became so short of breath that she struggled to get to class. The cinema studies student at Innis College kept up with her studies and won a student leadership award despite cystic fibrosis, which sapped her energy and required her to undergo a double-lung transplant for the second time in 10 years. She recovered from the operation and began her final semester this fall.

The scholarship winner who was the first in her Kenyan village to study abroad

Emmanuela Alimlim grew up in a rural Kenyan village of about 100 people, in family of 12 kids. She was the first person from her village to study abroad when she came to U of T to take economics on a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship.

In Toronto, she overcame the stresses of living thousands of kilometres away from home, in a place with a very different climate and customs, to contribute meaningfully to life on campus. She founded the Eastern African Students' Association and a non-profit that supports the education of girls and women back in Kenya.

U of T's newest Rhodes Scholar

Edil Ga'al made friends and found supportive staff at U of T's Victoria College (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

At U of T, students are encouraged to engage with the world. Edil Ga'al lived up to those expectations and then some.

African studies and political science were the subjects that spoke to her. The Victoria College student explored them in the classroom and beyond, completing an internship at a human-rights NGO in Uganda and making two trips to Rwanda.

In December, she was one of only 11 Canadian students to receive a Rhodes Scholarship to continue their education at Oxford. She hopes to contribute to discussions on peace, stability and justice as an academic or fieldworker. “I know it’s a lofty goal, but you kind of have to dream big,” she said.

The engineering student who had a hand in an Oscar-winning film

There are no small parts in a film. The same could be said for the work behind the scenes. Charlie Katrycz, in mechanical engineering, contributed to Guillermo del Toro's and The Shape of Water's Oscar glory in 2018 by helping to build the tank for the movie's amphibian man.

Outstanding Indigenous students who organized a powwow and gave back to their communities

Dancers at the 2018 powwow at the Goldring Centre organized by the Indigenous Studies Students' Union (photo by Laura Pedersen)

Indigenous students organized the first powwow on campus in 20 years in 2017. This year, the expected attendance was so great that the event was moved to the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

Hundreds of people turned out, some hailing from northern Ontario, to celebrate Indigenous students, language and culture. Students, staff and faculty danced across the gym floor together.

Earlier this year, two Indigenous students with an impressive track record inside the classroom and beyond were recognized with the President's Award for Outstanding Indigenous Student of the Year. Julie Blair returned to school after a 20-year hiatus to earn a 3.9 GPA and lead Indigenous committees and clubs. Meanwhile, PhD student Rebecca Beaulne-Stuebing studied the untold histories of Anishinaabe-led schools in relation to Indigenous activist movements.

The quadruple threat

Abigail Whitney operates with the same 24 hours a day as the rest of us, but she’s found the time to be a student, actor, model and director. Whitney, a University College student, was the face of a national ad campaign for Sephora, she appeared in CoverGirl and Vogue Italia and made her directorial debut with the UC Follies' show, Les Frères (The Brothers) by Sandra A. Daley-Sharif.

The scientist who went to the bottom of the Earth

Matt Young took a selfie at the South Pole while on a research trip during his PhD studies at U of T (photo courtesy of Matt Young)

A research station at the South Pole bears the names of two legendary early 20^th-century explorers who ventured into the icy unknown. Matt Young's adventure to the South Pole began last winter. He took five flights over two weeks to reach a research station, where he helped upgrade a camera that surveys the sky at microwave frequencies to reveal the cosmic microwave background. The instrument produces a snapshot of the universe as it was less than 400,000 years after the Big Bang.

Young evidently didn't have his fill of fun – he returned to Antarctica this fall.

The serial-killer researcher who connected the dots and made headlines

Sasha Reid has an unusual academic interest: serial killers and their motivations. She has spreadsheets filled with the names of series killers and their modus operandi. After seeing a pattern in missing persons in Toronto, she came to suspect there was a serial killer at large in Toronto and shared her theory with the police. Her suspicions appeared to be confirmed when police later arrested a man in connection with the deaths of eight men with ties to the gay village. Reid made national and international news.

The Nigerian students wh o give African expats a taste of home

(photo courtesy of Paul Borkwood/CBC Licensing)

This was a big year for Stephen Ayeni and Naafiu Mohammed, U of T Mississauga students from Nigeria who met in math class in 2015. They missed the cuisine from home and figured that other African students did too. That was the impetus for their e-commerce site, Afrocart, which offers cereals, snacks, flour, spices and other items, including a batter dispenser to make Nigerian puff-puffs and rock buns.

From a family of 12 kids in a Kenyan village, this U of T grad is working to help other women get an education

Romi Levine — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 14:02:19 +0000

From a family of 12 kids in a Kenyan village, this U of T grad is working to help other women get an education

Romi Levine Fri, 11/02/2018 - 10:02

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'It's been wonderful and quite surprising': Emmanuela Alimlim is graduating this fall with an undergraduate degree in economics and minors in environmental studies and environmental geography (photo by Romi Levine)

Romi Levine

Topic

Our Community

Health & Wellness Centre

Convocation 2018

Graduate Stories

Centre for International Experience

Convocation

Economics

Faculty of Arts & Science

International Students

Mastercard Scholars

Rotman Commerce

Woodsworth College

Ubuntu. I am because we are.

This Zulu philosophy has come to define Emmanuela Alimlim’s time at the University of Toronto.

The economics major in the Faculty of Arts & Science has spent the past five years building networks of students, staff and faculty who helped her achieve ambitious goals and who have been the light during some of her darkest days.

She’s now getting ready to close this chapter of her life – graduating during this year’s fall convocation.

“It's been wonderful and quite surprising,” she says.

Alimlim grew up in a tiny village of fewer than 100 people in northern Kenya. The oldest of 12 siblings, she says home life was chaotic – but enjoyable nonetheless.

Though over 12,000 kilometres separate her from her family, Alimlim says she tries to speak with them every day.

“We don’t really have internet or Skype to do that so I have to schedule a time when everyone is there so I can talk to them,” she says.

Alimlim says she’s the first woman in her village to go abroad to study – a feat she doesn’t take for granted and serves as inspiration for others there.

“For them to have somebody who has definitely broken the cycle of poverty in the family and somebody who has gone outside to study and embrace education, they see that as something they should also aspire to do,” she says.

She’s hoping to encourage more women in her village to advance their education through an initiative she founded called Penda Dada, which also works to prevent teen pregnancy.

“With Penda Dada, we make sure we talk to girls about the importance of education, we try to raise as much money here and send it to take a girl to school,” she says.

Read the audio transcription here

Alimlim, a Woodsworth College student, came to U of T through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars program, which covers the tuition, accommodation and other expenses for a select group of students from Africa to come to a university in Canada. After she finished her studies in the spring term, Alimlim was hired by the foundation to work on youth engagement.

“Having a community of young men and women who are doing marvellous work through their own education and also building a community of young people – you see in their faces and the work they’re doing that they truly want to transform the continent of Africa and especially the communities and the countries they come from,” says Alimlim of her fellow Mastercard Scholars. “It's been a really amazing journey.”

But Alimlim’s path to her undergraduate degree had obstacles. When she first came to U of T, the distance from her friends and family back home in Kenya as well as the food and climate she was accustomed to meant she struggled to adjust to life in Toronto.

“I had to deal with a lot of depression and anxiety. I isolated a lot of myself,” she says.

After eventually getting the help she needed, Alimlim became an advocate for those suffering from mental illness – particularly students.

“Mental illness is something we try to hide,” she says. “It’s something mostly people from the African nations or people from the Black community don't talk about because we've harboured a lot of things that we want to mask,” she says.

Alimlim works to raise awareness about the resources students can use when they’re in need of help and support – mentally and academically – including the Health and Wellness Centre, the registrar’s office and the Centre for International Experience.

“There are so many resources that exist but if you don’t know, it’s really difficult to get help,” she says.

She also made a documentary film called Invisible Despair about students living with mental illness.

Alimlim’s robust network at the university also helped her accomplish one of the greatest achievements of her university career – founding the Eastern Africa Students Association. Alimlim formed the association in 2017 with a small group of friends who were interested in creating a like-minded community of people from the region.

“We were able to register a club on time and our numbers skyrocketed from three people to 250,” she says. “We organized events, we applied for funding sometimes, we organized a gala – we made everyone come for free because we had all the funding.”

The Wakanda-themed gala celebrated existing members of the association and recruited new ones, and was attended by John Lepi Lanyasunya, the high commissioner for the Republic of Kenya.

The effort Alimlim puts into all aspects of university life doesn’t go unnoticed.

Michelle Mabira, a Rotman Commerce student and one of Alimlim’s closest friends, says she’s always looking out for other people.

“Her dreams and ideas are always helping other people and helping the community,” she says. “The things she’s done for her communities at U of T have been incredible.”

Alimlim’s work will have a lasting impression in Canada, but she hopes to eventually return home to make her mark in Kenya.

“Most of the sub-Saharan African countries have the potential to see themselves grow,” she says. “I think young people have the power to transform their communities and their countries and for me, it will be an honour and to be part of the good side of history being able to be part of that.”

Days away from her graduation ceremony, Alimlim she had these words to pass on to future international students:

“Man, it’s going to be a wild ride for you but it’s going to be beautiful. It’s going to break you apart but it's going to make you appreciate the beautiful university we have and the beautiful culture.”

U of T celebrates fifth class of Mastercard Foundation Scholars from sub-Saharan Africa

geoff.vendeville — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 21:43:28 +0000

U of T celebrates fifth class of Mastercard Foundation Scholars from sub-Saharan Africa

geoff.vendeville Fri, 01/19/2018 - 16:43

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U of T's Mastercard Foundation Scholars with University President Meric Gertler and Reeta Roy (centre), president and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation (photo by Gustavo Toledo)

Geoffrey Vendeville

Topic

Global Lens

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

International Students

Mastercard Scholars

President Meric Gertler

Subheadline

From Cameroon to Zambia, 15 students on Mastercard Foundation scholarship make up latest cohort

Derrick Mwangi flashed a nervous smile before standing up to speak at a dinner for his peers who came to the University of Toronto on a scholarship for outstanding students from sub-Saharan Africa. The Kenyan computer-science major – and amateur filmmaker – made a movie for the occasion.

On a screen above the podium, he showed the video that featured talking heads-style interviews with the other scholars. Mwangi says it was tough to keep the video under four minutes. “It was so much fun. They had a lot to say. … The footage was 30 minutes!”

Together with U of T President Meric Gertler, Reeta Roy, president and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation, and Joseph Wong, associate vice-president and vice-provost, international student experience, current Mastercard Foundation Scholars and alumni of the program welcomed the latest cohort of 15 students from Africa on Tuesday evening.

For the first time at the annual dinner, scholars who have recently graduated were also celebrated. Among the first group of scholars, who arrived in 2013, five have received their degrees and gone on to further studies and other exciting opportunities. Mubarek Abdela, an electrical engineering graduate and former Mastercard Foundation Scholar from Ethiopia, didn’t have to travel far to greet the incoming class – he has stayed at U of T to pursue a master’s. Nana Boa-Amponsem, on the other hand, couldn't make it because she is at the University of Bristol taking a master’s in public policy.

This year, 11 more scholars are expected to take the stage at Convocation Hall.

“These incredibly talented individuals aspire, quite realistically, to become future leaders in their home countries,” President Gertler said, “but while they are here, they are also making incredible contributions to this academic community.”

He added that a trip to Kigali, Rwanda, last fall has made him even more enthusiastic about the potential for partnerships in Africa. “That experience also gave me a new, first-hand insight into the incredible energy and potential that is already creating a wave of economic growth and social progress in the world’s youngest continent,” he said.

U of T was one of the first universities to offer the scholarship for bright and disadvantaged students in sub-Saharan Africa. The Mastercard Foundation made the program possible with a US$22.8-million grant. The scholarship covers tuition in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences or Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, along with the cost of books, living expenses and airfare.

Wong said the scholars’ experiences reminded him of his father’s stories about moving from rural Malaysia to the U.K. for graduate school in the 1960s. “When we were growing up we had this ratty old red blanket, and he would tell us it was the blanket given to him by his host family,” he said. He praised the students for their courage to move to a distant part of the world for their studies.

Dickson Eyoh, an associate professor in the department of political science, says the scholars’ stories hit close to home for him too. Since the program’s beginning, he has been a faculty adviser to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars. “For me it’s almost like going back down memory lane, because at some point I was a fresh international student in the U.S.,” from Cameroon. He has coached the students through the process of adjustment to, in some cases, a new language, culture and unfamiliar foods. It has been exciting to watch their progress as they overcome challenges, he says.

But where some see obstacles, Fikremariam Gedefaw sees opportunities.

Fikremariam Gedefaw, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar from Ethiopia, studies economics and math (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

The student from Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, who majors in economics and math, finished his first year at U of T with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Although it's early in his academic career, he is already thinking big: He wants to change economics by bringing a new perspective to the field based on his experience of life in Africa.

“Obviously when you come from miles away, in a new culture – these are challenges. But they’re not just challenges,” he says, “I can’t think of another experience that has taught me so much.”

Strengthening international partnerships: U of T President Meric Gertler in Rwanda and Ethiopia

ullahnor — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 15:46:57 +0000

Strengthening international partnerships: U of T President Meric Gertler in Rwanda and Ethiopia

ullahnor Tue, 11/14/2017 - 10:46

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President Meric Gertler visited the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, a graduate school in Rwanda, where he met students – some expressed interest in coming to Canada for their PhD (photo courtesy of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program)

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President Meric Gertler

When University of Toronto President Meric Gertler first began consulting with members of the U of T community on the idea of deepening global engagement as one of the university’s key priorities, colleagues advised him not to limit research and institutional partnerships to the usual suspects.

“We talked about how we should think about regions like Africa, where not only are U of T faculty and students helping countries move along a progressive path, but also where we can learn a lot from those experiences ourselves – so it would be very much a two-way street,” he said.

Last month, President Gertler visited Rwanda and Ethiopia as part of the university’s ongoing efforts to raise U of T’s global profile and promote international partnerships.

Along with leaders from other institutions like Sciences Po and University of California-Berkeley, he travelled to Rwanda to discuss the achievements of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which has brought 67 students from across Africa to U of T over the last four years. From there, he flew to Ethiopia to learn more about a U of T collaboration with Addis Ababa University that over the last 14 years has helped transform health care and higher education in the country.

It was his first time travelling to Africa and likely the first official visit by a U of T president to the continent.

In an interview with U of T News after his return, President Gertler said he saw signs that educational systems are developing rapidly and that economic growth is robust.

“There’s this incredible sense of energy and potential, which is extremely palpable,” he said. “I came away with a heightened sense of excitement about the potential for the University of Toronto both to contribute to and learn from engagement with our African partners. It has, if anything, deepened my own conviction that we should be working to establish strong and deep partnerships with African institutions.

“The instincts of our colleagues to highlight Africa in our international strategy – those instincts were bang on.”
President Meric Gertler was in Kigali, Rwanda, along with leaders of other universities as part of an annual event by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (photo courtesy of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program)

The Rwandan leg of the trip, from Oct. 17-18, was organized by the Mastercard Foundation, whose Scholars Program provides financial support to help qualified and disadvantaged students from sub-Saharan Africa pursue higher education at institutions like U of T.

Until now, the program’s annual conference took place in New York City, but this year Kigali was selected after the presidents of the universities involved in the initiative asked to have the meeting in an African country to foster deeper understanding of the continent and its potential, Gertler said.

U of T was one of the first Canadian universities to partner with the program. Starting in 2013, students have come to Toronto from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia, Ethiopia and Cameroon, to name a few. The scholarship, made possible by a US$22.8 million grant from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, covers tuition in the Faculty of Arts & Science or the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, as well as the cost of books, living expenses and airfare.

President Gertler speaking at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in Kigali, Rwanda. He was there along with leaders from other institutions like Sciences Po and University of California-Berkeley (photo courtesy of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program)

Last June, members of the first cohort of scholars graduated from U of T, an important milestone for the program and the university.

“When you meet these students, it’s hard not to be impressed,” said President Gertler. “They’re so articulate, intelligent, motivated. To a person, incredibly warm, gracious, and grateful to the foundation and to the university.”

He added that having students on campus from across Africa has changed the university’s outlook on where to prioritize international partnerships.

“I would say their presence has helped to elevate interest amongst faculty and students and staff in Africa, and helped to foster excitement about deepening our engagement. I think in many ways the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has helped to lead U of T in a different direction.”

MasterCard Foundation Scholars: U of T celebrates students from Sub-Saharan Africa

geoff.vendeville — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 18:59:17 +0000

MasterCard Foundation Scholars: U of T celebrates students from Sub-Saharan Africa

geoff.vendeville Thu, 02/09/2017 - 13:59

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U of T's MasterCard Foundation Scholars were honoured at a dinner with U of T President Meric Gertler at Massey College on Thursday (photo by Gustavo Toledo Photography)

Geoffrey Vendeville

Author legacy

Geoffrey Vendeville

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As the first U of T MasterCard scholars prepare to graduate, others' journey is just beginning

Vanessa Grace Bart-Plange came to Toronto from Ghana four years ago as part of the first wave of MasterCard Foundation Scholars.

In a speech at U of T's fourth annual MasterCard Foundation Scholars dinner last week, she reflected on her time here – from her first days as a naïve new student on campus to the present.

In her scholarship application, she had written that she wanted to become a professor and improve education and vocational training in her native country to lessen graduate unemployment. And there was the small matter of wanting to win a Nobel Prize in Literature.

She said she stills wants to teach at a university and is applying to grad schools.

“As for the Nobel Prize, I have found that each day spent making someone’s life better, whether as a volunteer tutor or an intern at a constituency office at City Hall is a Nobel Prize in and of itself,” she said.

She’s a little closer to accomplishing her goals now, after making the most of her time on campus and studying abroad at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (SciencesPo).

“As I stand here as a scholar with a world-class education about to be released into the world, all I can say is ‘Thank you,’” she said. “This scholarship is not the end but the beginning of greater things to come.”

U of T President Meric Gertler saluted the university's 52 MasterCArd Foundation Scholars at the dinner Thursday, noting that the graduation of several members of the original cohort marked a milestone for the university.

“Their experiences and their plans are truly inspiring,” he said.

The scholarship was made possible by a $22.8-million grant from the MasterCard Foundation. It covers tuition in the Faculty of Arts & Science or the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, as well as the cost of books, living expenses and airfare. U of T was one of the first Canadian universities, along with the University of British Columbia and McGill University, to partner with the MasterCard Foundation to offer this scholarship.

The foundation's goals “resonate strongly” with U of T's own strategic priorities, President Gertler said.

“The program helps equip emerging leaders with the core competencies needed for leadership in a complex, rapidly changing and sometimes turbulent world,” he said. “In turn, our MasterCard Foundation Scholars bring unique perspectives to our campuses, and they enhance our capacity to think and engage on a global level.”

Read about MasterCard Scholar Emmanuela Alimlim

Sylvia Mwangi, from Nyeri, in central Kenya, was the first in her family to go to university – and if all goes to plan, she will soon be one of the first U of T students to graduate thanks to a MasterCard Foundation scholarship. Partly inspired by one of her favourite courses at U of T, the industrial engineering major wants to improve the processes behind health-care systems.

For other students, their journey is just beginning.

Michael Samakayi, the first deaf MasterCard Foundation Scholar at U of T, has yet to choose a major – he’s leaning toward criminology or sociology.

Although he is just starting his undergraduate education, he already has a clear career goal: he wants to be his country’s first deaf lawyer and advocate for the rights of young people.

Michael Samakayi, a first-year student in Woodsworth College, is the first deaf MasterCard Foundation Scholar (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

“When I was offered the full scholarship, I thought I was dreaming or someone was playing a trick on me,” said the Zambian student through an interpreter.

“I’m concerned for the children in my country, not only the deaf children,” he said. “My goal is to improve the conditions in my country, and I’m very determined, very focused on that goal."

Reeta Roy, president and CEO of the MasterCard Foundation, said that although there is unease in the world today, U of T’s scholars are reasons for optimism.

“I was listening to each of you, coming into your first year, talk about your aspirations and your dreams, and I already know we should be very encouraged,” she said.

Mastercard Scholars

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U of T partners with leading African universities and Mastercard Foundation to advance health care in Africa

Now U of T grads, three Mastercard Foundation Scholars keen to give back to their communities

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Modestus Nzubechi Amaechi

Providence Tatenda Mapingire

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The U of T students who kept up the tradition of Black graduation

From a Tibetan refugee camp to U of T Dentistry

The student who made his voice heard

The undergraduate who made the most of university and inspired others to do the same

The student who was the picture of perseverance

The scholarship winner who was the first in her Kenyan village to study abroad

U of T's newest Rhodes Scholar

The engineering student who had a hand in an Oscar-winning film

Outstanding Indigenous students who organized a powwow and gave back to their communities

The quadruple threat

The scientist who went to the bottom of the Earth

The serial-killer researcher who connected the dots and made headlines

The Nigerian students wh o give African expats a taste of home

From a family of 12 kids in a Kenyan village, this U of T grad is working to help other women get an education

U of T celebrates fifth class of Mastercard Foundation Scholars from sub-Saharan Africa

Strengthening international partnerships: U of T President Meric Gertler in Rwanda and Ethiopia

Read more about Mastercard Foundation Scholars at U of T

Read more about TAAAC

MasterCard Foundation Scholars: U of T celebrates students from Sub-Saharan Africa

Read about MasterCard Scholar Emmanuela Alimlim

Read about Reeta Roy and U of T MasterCard Foundation Scholars in The Toronto Star